Are you passionate about coffee and looking to make it your career? You're not alone! Coffee roasting is a great way to turn your love of coffee into a profession. To get started, you'll need to understand the requirements for the job you're interested in, as well as the skills and certifications that will help you succeed. Most coffee roasters start out as apprentices to a master roaster. To find someone who has the position you want, try setting up an informal chat over coffee or a more structured informational interview.
Ask specific questions about how they got their position, what barriers they experienced, and what advice they have. The requirements for getting a job in the coffee industry vary depending on the position. For example, baristas typically need a high school diploma, knowledge or interest in coffee, and good customer service skills. Evaluators and evaluators often have advanced certifications, such as a Q qualifier license, which focuses on coffee evaluation and tasting tools to determine the taste, aroma and other quality control factors of beans and beverages.
There are no formal requirements to become a coffee roaster or roast coffee independently, although several skills, such as great attention to detail, mechanical aptitude and creative problem solving, are very useful for this type of work. The Coffee Career Center provides job applicants, internship candidates and employers with a comprehensive, personalized resource for online work connections. You don't have to give up your current career completely to pursue a career in coffee. There is a traditional career progression where you stay in a position but move forward in terms of responsibility.
Find out what you can bring to the community, as well as where you feel most comfortable building a career. In some places, baristas can make a healthy salary as they climb the ladder to higher-paying jobs in their career. Sierra encourages people from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in the coffee industry. She is a sensory judge certified by the World Barista Championship, a licensed coffee preparation coach for the Specialty Coffee Association, and a professional coffee counselor.
If you want to dedicate yourself to coffee because you are a coffee “geek”, I recommend that you find another reason why you want to dedicate yourself to coffee, or simply that you keep coffee as a beautiful hobby. By demonstrating your enthusiasm and being open to new experiences, you can open the door to the next level of your career. Having that kind of consideration for colleagues who don't want to accept a job they probably wouldn't keep was important to Wade, because he knows that developing long-term relationships within the industry is one of the most important aspects of a successful career in the coffee industry, as well as one of the best ways to facilitate the search for employment. It's also a powerful way to hone your craft and grow your career and, hopefully, help others along the way. Your willingness to reach out, connect and follow up with others in the community can make a difference in your career path.
